DHAKA, Bangladesh — Rising political tensions have emerged in Bangladesh as a prominent student organization has demanded the resignation of the nation’s ceremonial president following remarks he made that seemingly questioned the legitimacy of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation in August.
The interim government is set to convene a Cabinet meeting to deliberate on the escalating situation on Thursday.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has issued a two-day ultimatum for President Mohammed Shahabuddin to vacate his position. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Dhaka on Tuesday, while others attempted to breach security at the presidential residence, Bangabhaban.
Reports from police and onlookers indicated that security forces engaged with protesters using batons and stun grenades to disperse the crowds late Tuesday. Media accounts reported at least two individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontations.
This latest wave of political unrest was sparked when Shahabuddin commented in a Bengali-language publication that he had not personally seen Hasina’s resignation letter after she fled to India amid widespread student protests in August. Following her departure on August 5, a government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus came into power.
In his interview with Manab Zamin, Shahabuddin expressed that he was only informed about Hasina’s resignation and had not received the letter directly. His remarks stirred outrage among Yunus’s administration and student activists, leading to calls for Shahabuddin’s resignation.
“I attempted to obtain the resignation letter multiple times but was unsuccessful,” the president was quoted as saying regarding the events surrounding August 5. “Perhaps she didn’t have the time to provide it.” This statement comes as Hasina fled from the impending protests aimed at her official residence.
In a national address on August 5, Shahabuddin stated that Hasina had presented her resignation letter to him, claiming to have formally received it.
Asif Nazrul, the country’s legal advisor, recently leveled accusations against Shahabuddin for disseminating misinformation and questioned whether he should remain in his role as head of state.
According to Bangladesh’s constitution, the prime minister must deliver a written resignation to the president. Shahabuddin was appointed as president following Hasina’s election to a fourth term during the January elections.
He subsequently dissolved parliament before the interim government took over on August 8.
On Tuesday, a group of roughly 200 students protested at a monument in Dhaka, labeling Shahabuddin as a collaborator with Hasina’s oppressive administration.
In a separate event, a few hundred demonstrators attempted to breach a security blockade to access the presidential grounds late Tuesday night, with protests continuing into the early hours of Wednesday.
Observers suggest that the resignation or ousting of the president could result in a constitutional crisis, as only parliament has the authority to impeach the president for misconduct or incapacity.
While Hasina is currently situated in India, the government led by Yunus has expressed intentions to pursue her extradition to face allegations of crimes against humanity.